The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-11-12
GAMES OF ANIMALS.
How the Lower Orders Of Creation Display
Their Love OF Sport.

How the Lower Orders OF Creation Display
Their Love OF Sport. |
That insects have their games and |
sports am convinced. This first oc-
cured to me while in the Adironacks
some years ago. was some distance
in the wilderness, and having found a
small clearing. was resting from my
climb, when suddenly the sun, that had
been obscured, sent band Of light
through an opening in the trees and at
once transformed the spot into verita-
bic fairyland. From all about innum-
cradle forms of insect life seemed to
spring into the gladstone light, and
soon the great sunbeam was the scene
of sucl, revelry as is only imagined by
tellers of fairy stories. A band Of
gnats, or insects resembling them,
seemed to be performing some mystic
dance. They floated on the beams Of
light; rising and falling in undulating
lines, forming and reforming, now
disappearing, as if at some proconcerted
signal, only to appear again in some
new shape. So regular and exact were
these movements that WAS impressed
that they had some meaning. In and
about this band of players various other
forms were darting. Such games of
tag! such aerial leaps, dives and
plunges! all showing that this sunbath
was being enjoyed to the utmost ex-
tent.
Once, when lying on the rocks that
face the ocean. not far from Nahant, 1
was attracted by curious clicking
sound, first on ono side. then on the
other; as if q system of signalling was
going on. Recognizing the note of one
of the locust tribe, carefully turned
and saw half dozen large, rusty
brown fellows, commonly known as
grasshoppers, which so exactly initiated
| the rocks in color that it was with tho
greatest difficulty distinguished them
when not in motion. 1t was apparent
that they were engaged in some curious
| performance. as they were marching
about in the most erratic manner, dodg-
ing and hiding behind pieces of stone,
| and exhibiting remarkable acuteness in
avoiding each other. All the little
l
fully taken advantage of, and their mo-
tions in creeping upon one another re-
minded me of those of u cat, so stealthy
and sly were they. This game of hide
and-seek was occasionally varied by u
leaping performance. Two locusts
would gravely face each other, and
then as if at Il given signal they would
jump into the air, one passing over the
other in the flight, alighting and as
suming the same positions. only re-
| versed. watched their maneuvers for
some time, and listened to the curious
clicking that accompanied them; but
finally an incautious movement broke
up the games. and the players flew
away, seemingly uttering vigorous pro-
tests.
The love of sport is not confined to
these iowly creatures. doubt that an
animal can be found which does not in
some way or at some time show a desire
for what we term amusement" Among
the land animals, or rather the land and
water animals, the offers are especially
noticeable from the fact that some of
their games are exactly like those of
human device. 1t was Audubon who
first chronicled their actions, he having
watched them from II secluded spot,
and since then their games have been
enjoyed by many observers. The otters
Qutra canadcnsis) ara perhaps the orig
inators of the games OF sliding down hill
and tobogganing.
Offers are always found about
streams; building their tunnel-nests in
the banks. having as rule. one en-
trance into the water, and another on
shore. During the winter bank is Sc.
lected having good incline and leading G
into the water, or sometimes out upon the
ice. The snow is then carefully patted
down and rendered as smooth as posi-.
BILE, and finally becomes Il glare of ice.
This accomplished, the offers start at the
top of the hill, and turning upon their
backs give themselves push with their
hind feet, and away go the living sleds,
dashing down the incline, turning al
the bottom and with splash entering
the cold water, or darting away on the
smooth ice. So fond are the animals OF
this sport that they keep it up for q
J long time. and hunters watch the slides
knowing that here they have the bes
chance of finding the offers.
The sea-otters are just as play full
They are found lying on the great kelp
beds off shore, and have been seen toss
ing their young into the air. riding OF
the breakers upon their backs, ant
going through number of motions o
an extremely interesting nature. Tha
, these occurrences are truly games, on,
, needs but to watch the domestic cat ant
her kittens; and young lions, tigers ant
all the cat tribe have similar DISPOSE
tions, while if we turn to the monkey it
entire existence is seen to be contin
uous game, or an endless series of prac
tical jokes perpetrated upon its fellows
Wide -4aDake.